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Onboard Preamp Questions

S

Spectordave

May 8, 2006
28
0
myspace.com
#1
I'm a total noobie when it comes to onboard preamps and need some help. I am wanting to upgrade my MIM Fender Jazz Bass with the Aguilar OBP-2TK set. Here's what i need to know:

1. (Here's the noobie question) Do i need to change the pickups in my Fender to utilise the Preamp? or is it as simple as just adding the preamp?

2. Would it be possible to wire the Jazz Bass: master volume, treble control, bass control?

3. Would it be possible to add a mini toggle switch to the control plate of the Jazz Bass that would bypass the preamp, because i like the current sound of my Jazz Bass but sometimes im needing something more hence the addition of the preamp?

Does anyone have any pictures of Aguilar preamp installations so i can see what im in for?

Thanks for any help anyone can give me!
 
#2
Spectordave said:
I'm a total noobie when it comes to onboard preamps and need some help. I am wanting to upgrade my MIM Fender Jazz Bass with the Aguilar OBP-2TK set. Here's what i need to know:

1. (Here's the noobie question) Do i need to change the pickups in my Fender to utilise the Preamp? or is it as simple as just adding the preamp?

2. Would it be possible to wire the Jazz Bass: master volume, treble control, bass control?

3. Would it be possible to add a mini toggle switch to the control plate of the Jazz Bass that would bypass the preamp, because i like the current sound of my Jazz Bass but sometimes im needing something more hence the addition of the preamp?

Does anyone have any pictures of Aguilar preamp installations so i can see what im in for?

Thanks for any help anyone can give me!
Click to expand...

1) Your pickups will work just fine!

2) As long as you get the right configuration of the OBP, there's no reason you can't wire it Master Volume/Bass/Treble.

3) You can also add a toggle to do preamp bypass. This will require a bit more wiring, but it's totally doable. My guess is that your Jazz now is either vol/blend/tone or vol/vol/tone, right? So would you want vol/bass/treble in active and vol/(vol or blend)/tone in passive, or are you wanting to remove the second volume or blend in both modes and just retain the tone control in passive mode? Either is possible.
 
#3
Hollow Man said:
1) Your pickups will work just fine!

2) As long as you get the right configuration of the OBP, there's no reason you can't wire it Master Volume/Bass/Treble.

3) You can also add a toggle to do preamp bypass. This will require a bit more wiring, but it's totally doable. My guess is that your Jazz now is either vol/blend/tone or vol/vol/tone, right? So would you want vol/bass/treble in active and vol/(vol or blend)/tone in passive, or are you wanting to remove the second volume or blend in both modes and just retain the tone control in passive mode? Either is possible.
Click to expand...

Thanks, thats helped loads.

I've found the OBP-2 here: http://www.bestbassgear.com/aguilar-obp2-preamp.htm what configuration would be best for me to have it wired master volume/bass/treble? they also sell the active passive switch as an add on which is a bonus.
 
#4
Spectordave said:
Thanks, thats helped loads.

I've found the OBP-2 here: http://www.bestbassgear.com/aguilar-obp2-preamp.htm what configuration would be best for me to have it wired master volume/bass/treble? they also sell the active passive switch as an add on which is a bonus.
Click to expand...

The best configuration is going to depend on exactly how you want it to work in passive/preamp bypass mode. If you just have the vol/bass/treble controls and you bypass the preamp, you will only have a volume control left. If you want to have the tone control in passive mode, you'll need something slightly different.

I'm assuming that you have three holes in the bell plate on your Jazz for controls. If you wanted more, you'd have to have someone install the input jack on the side of your bass, which you may or may not want. With those three holes, you could have:

Master Volume/bass/treble
Master Volume/stacked bass and treble/tone control
Master Volume/stacked bass and treble/pickup blend
Stacked Volume controls/stacked bass and treble/tone control

Depending on what you want, you'll need different configurations. BestBassGear will do some of the wiring for you, and it wouldn't take too much to get the rest wired in. It's all about how you want it.
 

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